What's Bluesdaddy Listening To?

Killer” Ray Allison

2012-01-28T07:32:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues / Rhythm and Blues /Soul / Electronica
Management: Azure Music Group, Odysseus E. Johnson III M.Div.
Official Site: Killer Ray Allison

ARTIST BIO

“Killer” Ray Allison first broke into the blues during the early 1970's. Now a regular on the Chicago Blues scene for over four decades, "Killer" Ray has been an integral tour-de-force in bands by Muddy Waters, James Cotton, Koko Taylor, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells.

With a reputation as the hardest hitting drummer in the blues world, "Killer" has turned down gig offers from Eric Clapton, John Mayall and the late Gary Moore, so he could fully focus his energies toward leading a band. In 1998 and 2000, Ray was nominated for the W. C. Handy award as an instrumentalist.

In 1995 he appeared in the movie Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead with Andy Garcia, and in 1998 he played for Hilary Clinton’s birthday party in Chicago. From South Side holes in the wall to the Chicago Blues Fest and around the world, Ray never fails to please crowds of any age with his energetic shows, and his quick-draw staging gets audiences of kids clapping and singing along. When he takes a guitar to school, the kids all want to try their hand at it. Killer Ray says, “Right away the kids see it takes a lot of know-how, skill and strength in your hands to play the right chords and get into the rhythms. Learning music gives them something to work on.”

Thanks for listening - Bluesdaddy

Rick Derringer

2012-01-28T07:07:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues / Rock / Jazz
Label: Shrapnel Label Group / Blues Bureau International
Official Site: http://www.rickderringer.com/

ARTIST BIO

Young guitar great, vocalist and entertainer Rick Derringer was just 17 when his band The McCoys(TM)recorded the No.1 hit "Hang On Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, knocking "Yesterday" by The Beatles out of the top spot. The McCoys had enjoyed four years of successful touring, when Rick merged his talents with Johnny Winter in 1969 forming Johnny Winter And (And referring to The McCoys).
Rick was the only producer of all gold and platinum Winter Brothers recordings.

In '71 Rick was featured on three records, "Johnny Winter And", "Johnny Winter And-Live" and "Edgar Winter's White Trash". "And" featured the first version of Derringer's "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo" which was also released as a single, then selected again for "And - Live". Eventually, the busy Derringer joined Edgar Winter's White Trash full-time and produced the gold LP, "Roadwork". Derringer's solo album, All American Boy was released in '73 with the now already popular "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo", this time as a 'hit' single.

Read more at http://www.rickderringer.com/rd-biography.html

Janiva Magness

2012-01-26T08:33:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues / Memphis Soul / Americana
Label: Alligator, Alligator Records, Northern Blues
Official Site: http://www.janivamagness.com/

ARTIST BIO

“As I move forward,” says award-winning vocalist Janiva Magness, “I’m more willing to put myself on the line. I’m less willing to burden myself with unnecessary problems, less willing to care what people say about me. As it turns out, the more vulnerable I allow myself to be, the more strength I draw from that.” That vulnerability and strength is on full display on Magness’ powerful new album, Stronger For It. Magness, through her passionate vocals and, for the first time, through her own original songs, delivers the most moving and intimate album of her career.

Produced by Dave Darling (Brian Setzer, Meredith Brooks, Dan Hicks, John Waite), Stronger For It is Janiva’s declaration of independence. Having recently come through an intensely difficult period in her life, Magness has found new strength in her music. On these performances, she lays her soul bare, singing of loss and recovery, pain and redemption, hurt and healing, looking back and moving forward. Recording Stronger For It was as cathartic for Magness as listening to it will be for her fans. “Every human being goes through times of huge upheaval and personal transition,” Magness says. “I think everyone can relate.”

Magness, known primarily as a musical interpreter, co-wrote three remarkable, autobiographical songs for the album, including the poignant and melodic Whistling In The Dark, the riveting I Won’t Cry and the take-no-guff showstopper There It Is. Of her songwriting, Magness says, “Writing songs for me is laying out my experiences for everyone to see. It’s another level of vulnerability.”

Thanks for listening! - Bluesdaddy

Robben Ford

2012-01-26T08:24:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues
Official Site: http://www.myspace.com/robbenford

ARTIST BIO

Robben Ford is one of the premiere electric guitarists today, particularly known for his blues playing as well as his ability to be comfortable in a variety of musical contexts. A four-time Grammy nominee, he has played with artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Witherspoon, Miles Davis, George Harrison, Phil Lesh, Bonnie Raitt, Claus Ogerman, Michael McDonald, and many, many others.

Born in 1951 in Ukaih, California, Robben was the third of four sons in a musical family. His father Charles was a country and western singer and guitarist before entering the army and marrying Kathryn, who played piano and had a lovely singing voice. Robben’s first chosen instrument was the saxophone, which he began to play at age ten and continued to play until his early twenties. He began to teach himself guitar at age thriteen upon hearing the two guitarists from The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Michael Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop. In the late 1960’s, Ford frequented the Filmore and Winterland Auditoriums in San Francisco to see Jimmy Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Albert King, B.B. King and all of the progenitors of blues. “It was an incredible time for electric guitar,” Ford recalls.

On his interest in jazz, Ford says,” I fell in love with the sax playing of Paul Desmond and The Dave Brubeck Quartet, and before long found Ornette Coleman, Archie Shepp, Yusaf Lateef, Roland Kirk, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, and of course, Miles Davis.” These influences have stayed with Ford, playing a large part in his particular blend of jazz and blues that define him as a guitarist and allow him to play in a wide variety of settings.

Thanks for listening! - Bluesdaddy

Candye Kane

2012-01-26T08:16:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues / Jazz / Swing
Label: Delta Groove, Delta Groove Productions
Official Site: http://www.candyekane.com/

ARTIST BIO

Candye has been called a survivor, a superhero and the toughest girl alive. (All are also titles of her self-penned songs.) Her eleventh CD release, Sister Vagabond, released August 16, 2011 on Delta Groove Records was produced by Kane and her noted guitarist Laura Chavez, Sister Vagabond is a worthy successor to their 2010 collaboration, Superhero, which was nominated for Best Contemporary Blues CD in the Blues Foundation’s Blues Music Awards. Kane is nominated for 2012 BB King Entertainer of the Year and Best Contemporary Blues female. Vote at www.blues.org

The jump-blues singer, songwriter and mother of two from East Los Angeles is a seven-time nominee for National Blues Awards, has nabbed ten San Diego Music Awards and starred in a sold-out stage play about her life. She has performed worldwide for presidents and movie stars while raising two sons.
But her path to success was not always glamorous or easy. Raised in what she calls a dysfunctional blue-collar family, Candye became a mother, a pinup cover girl and a punk-rock, hillbilly blues-belter by the time she was just 21 years old. Ten CDs, six record labels, millions of international road miles and countless awards later, Miss Kane has proven to be a true survivor, beating pancreatic cancer while scrambling her way to the top of the roots-music heap, creating a world renowned reputation that has spanned two decades.

Thanks for listening - Bluesdaddy

Kenny Wayne Shephard

2012-01-25T10:13:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues / Rock
Label: Roadrunner
Management: Vector Management - Shepherd Entertainment
Official Site: http://www.myspace.com/kennywayneshepherd

ARTIST BIO
“One of the wonders of the world.” – James Brown
Recorded in Chicago’s House of Blues during the critically acclaimed 10 Days Out: Blues From The Backroads tour, Live in Chicago showcases Kenny and his band, Noah Hunt, Chris Layton, Scott Nelson and Riley Osbourn, along with special guests, Hubert Sumlin, Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, Buddy Flett, Bryan Lee and Tommy Shannon (of Double Trouble). Though an illness nearly kept Kenny from performing that night, his heartfelt commitment to the music (and quite a lot of adrenaline) ensured that he took the stage, sharing with the audience one of the most spectacular performances of his career, and one that fans can now hear on Live in Chicago.

A genuine guitar hero, Kenny has been playing since childhood, when he learned Muddy Waters licks by listening to his father’s record collection. By 16, Kenny had a deal with Giant Records, and recorded his first album while still in high school. Since then, Kenny has enjoyed two platinum and one gold albums, six Top 10 singles, and his album Trouble Is holds the distinction of being the longest running album on the Billboard Blues Charts, hitting the 2 year mark.

Over the course of his storied career, Kenny has amassed four Grammy nominations, two Billboard Music Awards, two Orville H. Gibson Awards, the Blues Foundation’s “Keeping the Blues Alive” award and a Blues Music Award. In 2008, Fender released the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Signature Series Stratocaster. 2007’s CD/DVD 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads was nominated for two Grammy Awards, aired on PBS television nationwide and has been certified RIAA Gold as a Long Form Video.

Thanks for listening - Bluesdaddy

Charla Corn

2012-01-25T10:02:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Country / Texas Music
Label: Sixth Street Sydicate, Charla Corn
Management: Betsy Cathey
Official Site: http://www.charlamusic.com/

ARTIST BIO
Charla is a genuine Texas treasure.... professional, unique, & captivating,.... Her voice and good looks are two more reasons to be jealous of the Lone Star State and our natural resources. Few talents can cross the media alternatives like Charla. Whether she's behind the podium, in front of the camera, or surrounded by her band, the Trainwrecks, Charla's ability to entertain you runs the entire range.

Charla can be found traveling nationally with her band performing for the PRCA/NFR, rodeos, festivals, weddings, corporate events, universities, youth associations & clubs. Charla & her band are a perfect match for any event.

"There is simply nothing better for me than being onstage, performing for people and watching them have a great time. I am committed to that feeling, to that sense of purpose. It's why I'm here." ~ Charla

Thanks for listening - Bluesdaddy

CASEY DONAHEW BAND

2012-01-25T09:30:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Country / Southern Rock / Red Dirt
Label: Almost Country Records
Management: Melinda Donahew
Official Site: http://www.caseydonahewband.com/

ARTIST BIO

With their lastest release, Moving On, The Casey Donahew Band are quickly becoming one of the hottest names in Texas Country, drawing fans at home and beyond. Capacity crowds are showing up this spring to see the Casey Donahew Band's dynamic live performances with over 1300 at the Grizzly Rose in Denver, CO and Tumbleweeds in Stillwater, OK recently hosted 3000 fans for CDB. Their first performance at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo this February drew an impressive 10,800 fans into the AT&T Center. SOLD OUT shows in 2010 include Fort Worth's legendary Billy Bob's Texas with 5500 fans and 12000 at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Casey Donahew Band owes their quickly expanding fan base to playing 200 dates a year playing State Fairs, Rodeos, Dance Halls, Festivals, headlining and opening for stellar acts like the Randy Roger's Band and Kevin Fowler in front of huge crowds.

The "Donahew-it" work ethic icludes self-releaseing four CD's in the past five years on their Almost Country Label. Texas Music Magazine's recent review calls Moving On "a vibrant collection matching eternally restless anthems aginst engaging narratives, rattles and rolls and rubmles like a youthful Robert Earl Keen fronting Reckless Kelly. Lone star idealism links kindred spirits." The CD charted on Billboard Top 200 at #126, #3 Heatseeker and #28 on the Country Charts (September 09) selling 14,000 copies in 5 months with single "Ramblin Kind" topping the Texas Music chart at #1.

Thanks for listening! - Bluesdaddy

The Mother Truckers

2012-01-24T09:48:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY

Genres: Rock / Country / Alternative
Management: Mark Gonzales (@mgonzoATX), M&S Music Management
Official Site: http://www.themothertruckers.com/

ARTIST BIO

The Mother Truckers are a kick-ass rock 'n' roll band from Austin, Texas! Their music is high-octane Americana, blending elements of Country and Blues with loud guitars, big choruses and powerhouse vocals. Their creative songwriting and high energy live performances lift you up to a place that’s somewhere between a honky-tonk and a mosh-pit!

The Mother Truckers are a kick-ass rock 'n' roll band from Austin, Texas! Their music is high-octane Americana, blending elements of Country and Blues with loud guitars, big choruses and powerhouse vocals. Their creative songwriting and high energy live performances lift you up to a place that’s somewhere between a honky-tonk and a mosh-pit! The core of the group is the singing songwriting team of Josh Zee and Teal Collins.

Josh Zee (vocals/lead guitar) has recorded 2 major label records on the SONY/Work label as the singer/guitarist and songwriter for the Rock group "Protein". They toured extensively throughout the U.S. on "The Warped Tour" and also toured Europe and Japan as part of MTV Asia Summer Fest.

Teal Collins (vocals/ukulele/guitar) Teal's early introduction to music was through her dad, famous Jazz disc jockey Al, "Jazzbeaux" Collins. Teal has recorded sessions for Grammy award winning producers Narada Michael Walden (Whitney Houston) and Stephen Bray (Madonna). Teal has also received Gold and Platinum albums for her work on Shanice (Motown records) and Third Eye Blind's album Blue.

Josh and Teal formed the Mother Truckers in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2002 after meeting at a local open mic night. The Band recorded several self-released albums including fan favorite "Something Worth Dying for".

Thanks for listening! - Bluesdaddy

JOSH ABBOTT BAND

2012-01-24T09:39:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY

Genres: Country / Texas Red Dirt
Label: Indie
Management: Bruce Kalmick, Ambiance Artists, Ambiance Artists
Official Site: http://www.joshabbottband.com/home.php

ARTIST BIO

A mere 57 seconds into the opening track of the Josh Abbott Band's She's Like Texas, you're likely to be hooked. One intro, one verse and one chorus are pretty much all that's required to recognize something special in the Texas-based act. The winding riffs that open "Road Trippin" have a weighty Southern-rock air about them, though the actual instrumentation-fiddler Preston Wait and guitarist Gabe Hanson breeze through the lines in unison-hints faintly at the western-swing heritage deep in their Texas roots.

Bass player Daniel Almodova and drummer Edward Villanueva set a powerful, chugging rhythmic foundation that walks the line between commercial country and raw honky tonks. And Josh Abbott-the founder, lead singer and chief songwriter for the ensemble-evinces a slight Steve Earle character: breathy, fiery, intense. Those initial sounds set the tone for She's Like Texas, the sophomore album from the Lonestar State's best-kept secret. The project is deceptively simple in its approach, built around honest songs about real-life emotions with strong harmonies and winsome melodic hooks. But it's complex in its results.

There's a joyfulness in the sonic foundations of "All Of A Sudden," "Brushy Creek" and "If You're Leaving (I'm Coming Too)," an ease in the de-stressing "Hot Water," a philosophical bent in the folksy "End Of A Dirt Road" and a reflective sadness in the closing ballad "Let My Tears Be Still." There are so many emotions tied into the album that the listener is guaranteed to feel something. "The most important idea that I write songs with is that they're autobiographical," Abbott says. "Nearly every song I write is a true story of mine, or of someone I know."

Thanks for listening! - Bluesdaddy

LAZY J AND THE DIRTY SHUFFLE

2012-01-24T09:29:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues
Label: FatCat Radio Network
Management: Micah Autry
Official Site: http://myspace.com/lazyjandthedirtyshuffle

ARTIST BIO

The blues is at the heart and soul of Texas music as well as the best rock’n’roll. And now from the heart of Texas now comes the supercharged blues of Lazy J & The Dirty Shuffle. The three-piece led by guitarist, singer and songwriter J Grover reaches down into the deep roots of the blues and brings the music into the 21st Century, firing it up with sizzling guitar work, propulsive rhythms and impassioned vocals to create blues music that honors the traditions while taking the music to new and exciting places.

“It’s greasy lowdown funky Texas blues music,” says Grover of what he and bassist Marcus Berrios and drummer James Gettys have created on the group’s debut album, Bone To Pick. Produced by David Zychek, a fellow guitarist known for his musical tenure in such groups as Airborne, Night Ranger, The Ken Hensley Band and more in addition to his own Texas-based band, the disc roams across many modes of the blues with a thrust and potency that doesn’t let go.

On the album, one can hear echoes of such influences as Johnny Winter and Jimi Hendrix (check out “I’ve Had Enough”), Buddy Guy (“Little Angel,” written as an homage to the blues master), T Bone Walker (on the title track) and The Allman Brothers Band (“You Don’t Love Me”) and many others. Yet the music’s final imprint is the high-energy blues of Lazy J & The Dirty Shuffle.

Thanks for listening! - Bluesdaddy

Vallejo

2012-01-23T13:46:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Rock / Latin / Funk
Label: Vallejo Music Group
Official Site: http://www.vallejomusic.com/

Arist Bio

A melting pot of infectious swaggering rock laced with Latin percussion and fiery live performances has made VALLEJO one of the most popular bands to hail from Austin, Texas.

Raised in the small town of El Campo, Texas on their parent’s LP collection of Tito Puente, Santana & Tijuana Brass, VALLEJO was first formed by the three Vallejo brothers A.J. (Vocals, Guitar), Alejandro (Drums), and Omar (Bass). Learning music by playing trumpet in the high school marching band and jamming to friend’s mixtapes of classic rock and funk, the brothers eventually migrated to picking up the guitar, bass and drums to create something that was instantly recognizable on the airwaves as their own.

Since then, VALLEJO has racked up fans one by one with thousands of high energy shows and a growing catalog of album releases including Sins (Chapel Lane), Shining Sun, Beautiful Life (TVT Records), Into the New (Epic Records) with famed Latin music producer Emilio Estefan Jr. (Miami Sound Machine), Stereo, Leftovers, Steamboat Live & Black Sky on the Vallejo brother’s own label VMG (Vallejo Music Group). In, 2009 VALLEJO released their critically acclaimed album, Thicker Than Water (VMG/Quadra) and recently took home the award for “Best Rock Band” at the Texas Latin Music Awards.

Ray Wylie Hubbard

2012-01-23T13:26:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY

Genres: Country / Americana / Roots/Rock/Country
Label: Bordello Records
Management: Judy Hubbard

ARTIST BIO

With a keen eye of observation and a wise man’s knowledge, Ray Wylie Hubbard composes and performs a dozen songs that couldn’t spring from anywhere else but out of his fertile rock and roll bluesy poet-in-the-blistering-heat southern noggin. ”I like to look at both enlightenment and endarkenment,” he declares. “I feel comfortable observing each.” A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment demonstrates the kind of talent that every great songwriter yearns for. Throughout the album, his focus remains on the song- constructing and performing stories set to music that resonate in a way that is completely his own.

Hubbard recruits an ensemble of accomplished musicians to make the album’s larger than life outlaw tunes echo from track to track. Among the musicians featured on the album are Kevin Russell (The Gourds), Gurf Morlix (Lucinda Williams, Robert Earl Keen), Bukka Allen (Ian Moore, Jack Ingram), Billy Cassis (Bob Schneider,Double Trouble, Soulhat), Ray Bonneville (B.B. King, JJ Cale, Muddy Waters), Seth James (Percy Sledge, Delbert McClinton), David Abeyta (Reckless Kelly) and The Trishas as well as his own son, Lucas Hubbard.

The writing and recording of A. Enlightenment B. Endarkenment came on the heels of Hubbard’s first screenplay endeavor, which was funded and filmed with a cast of icons including Kris Kristofferson, Dwight Yoakam and Lizzy Caplan. A weekly radio show, constant touring, and producing kept him busy, but didn’t manage to steal the Texan singer-songwriters focus. The outcome of the album is a juxtaposition of songs like “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” a fundamental gospel piece, and “Drunken Poet’s Dream,” a cowritten with Hayes Carll.

Lucky Peterson

2012-01-23T13:09:00.000-08:00

Lucky Peterson - You Can Always Turn Around (New release on Dreyfus Jazz)
★★★★ "One of the best blues records of the year" - DAILY NEWS
★★★ 1/2 (Three and 1/2 Stars) - Rolling Stone France

"Lucky Peterson's version of my song, "Atonement" just blew me away! It is just spectacular!!!" - Lucinda Williams

"A masterpiece." - Linda Yohn, WEMU Radio

Artist Bio:

Lucky Peterson was discovered by blues legend Willie Dixon when he was three years old, released his first record at five and soon after appeared on The Tonight Show. Trained by keyboardists Bill Doggett and Jimmy Smith, Peterson went on to play behind Little Milton, Bobby “Blue” Bland and Kenny Neal. On return from the “Young Blues Giants” tour of Europe, he signed first with Alligator, then Verve, Blue Thumb and Birdology/Dreyfus, where he recorded what Amazon.com called “his finest album,” Black Midnight Sun, in 2003. The New Yorker called him “a master of the guitar, organ and microphone.”

But his journey was not a smooth one, and Peterson spent the next few years in transition, with personal troubles preventing a proper follow-up to Black Midnight Sun.

But you can always turn around. These words took on special meaning for the 45-year-old Peterson, which is why the first album since his rehabilitation is titled You Can Always Turn Around. It is an uplifting collection of songs that speak of struggles and salvation, using the gritty clarity of acoustic roots-blues (with modern touches) as its main musical vehicle.

The album, released September 28, 2010 release on Dreyfus Jazz, was made in the Catskills with master Woodstock musicians Larry Campbell, guitar (Bob Dylan, Levon Helm); Scott Petito, bass (The Fugs, Mercury Rev, Rick Danko Band); and Gary Burke, drums (Joe Jackson, Shania Twain). Peterson as usual plays a mix of instruments: duolian resonator, piano and acoustic and electric guitars. Also prevalent is the acoustic piano on which Lucky sounds like a bluesy Elton John. “He’s something of a genius — his piano playing remind me of Aretha Franklin,” says drummer Burke, who has played behind Franklin on the road.

Thanks for listenin! - Bluesdaddy

Eric Tessmer

2012-01-21T09:46:00.000-08:00

Artist Bio: Official Site

Beloved by audiences throughout the world, the Eric Tessmer Band has captured the attention of fans from all ages as a result of their uncompromising musicianship and unbridled aggression. Their music is organic and natural—they’re real and every note you hear leaps from the speakers and is completely unfettered by superfluous studio trickery. With each performance, The Eric Tessmer Band’s collaborative vibe continues to evolve, built on a career and catalog of material that inspires and fuels the evolution of rock/blues. Live Collaborations: Anders Osborne, Stanton Moore, Hubert Sumlin, Pinetop Perkins, Coco Montoya, Alan Haynes, Monte Montgomery, Storyville, Bugs Henderson, and many more. Key Performances: Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI Taste of Chicago, Chicago, IL Montreal Jazz Festival, Montreal, QC Mont Tremblant Blues Festival, Mont Tremblant, QC Johnstown Folk Fest, Johnstown, PA Stevie Ray Vaughan Remembrance Ride, Dallas, TX

Thanks for listening - Bluesdaddy

Joe Jonas

2012-01-21T09:30:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues / R & B / Soul/Pop
Label: Whale Records
Management: T. Wayne

ARTIST BIO

Joe Jonas, at 73, still has the voice that demands to be listened to. Originally from Beaumont, TX, now living in Dallas, he has toured the world delivering The Blues, as only Joe can do, to Blues Lovers everywhere. Being a master of the harmonica and powerful vocalist, Joe has been included on many compilation Blues CDs, including “Texas Harmonica Rumble” and “Last of the Texas Bluesmen”.

Joe also has out several CDs on his own with other back-up bands and session players. It was only a matter of time before these two great Blues acts (Joe Jonas and The Silvertones) combined their talent and energy. Having played together for benefits and other special events, they were told how well they worked together, entertaining the crowd. Both being a power house act on their own, thought that joining forces could open a lot of doors for everyone involved, and bring The Blues to a larger audience.

Of all the back-up bands Joe has worked with, he says his favorite has always been The Silvertones. “These guys don’t just back me up”, says Joe, “they make me work to keep up with them. Not only are they top notch musicians, they put on a hell of a show by themselves.” Here we have tracks from Joe's new CD, "Hard Times Are Here Again".

Josh Alan Friedman

2012-01-21T08:44:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues / Atomic Acoustic Guitar / Anti-jingles, Funeral DirgesLabel: TopCat Records/Black Cracker Music

ARTIST BIO

"The guitar has always been the most important thing in the world to me," Friedman told the Dallas Times Herald in 1991. "It's a little bit more important than the writing because I've been doing it longer. The writing seemed like a sidetrack or something when I wasn't able to get my [expletive] together."

Though Friedman began playing guitar at 9, a pitching injury at 14 cost Friedman the use of his right arm for two years. "I figured if I ever had the honor of being able to play again, no one's going to pull me away from it."His time as a student with journeyman jazz guitarist Joe Monk in particular left a deep impression on the young musician.

Friedman spent his last five years in New York working as a guitarist with the busy show band City Limits, featuring Richard Lanham, former vocalist for The Drifters.Following his move to Dallas in 1987, Friedman began recording and performing as a solo artist in earnest. He also recorded and performed extensively with Sara Hickman, and produced Dallas’ KERA 90.1 Sound Sessions. Billed as “Josh Alan” he barnstormed the state of Texas for 20 years, rocking whole arenas with his Guild D-40 and earning three Dallas Observer Music Awards for Best Acoustic Act.

He was noted for his live use of acoustic feedback, the Maestro Echoplex and surf instrumentals, as well as an acoustic medley of Black exploitation movie soundtracks. He has released four albums: Famous & Poor, The Worst! (a musical based on the life and career of "Worst Director of All Time" Ed Wood), Blacks 'n' Jews (the title of which became a documentary on Josh’s life) and Josh Alan Band.

- Thank you for listening, Bluesdaddy

JIM SUHLER & MONKEY BEAT

2012-01-18T08:03:00.000-08:00

Artist Bio

DALLAS, TX - Blasting out Texas blues/rock for over seventeen years, Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat announce the February 17, 2009, release of the band's new cd, 'TIJUANA BIBLE', which will be released in the U.S. on Underworld Records, distributed nationally by Burnside Distribution. Produced by Jim Suhler and Tom Hambridge, 'TIJUANA BIBLE' is powered by thirteen original songs, plus unique takes on Elvin Biahop's "Drunken Hearted Boy" (with Bishop as a special guest on slide guitar), Rory Gallagher's "I Could've Had Religion" and AC/DC's "Up To My Neck in You". Additional special guests include Joe Bonamassa on lead guitar ("Deep Water Lullaby") and Jimmy Hall (Wet Willie) on backing vocals (Po' Lightnin').

"TIJUANA BIBLE' was recorded at Ocean Way Studios and 1808 Studios in Nasville, as well as Audio Dallas in Garland , Texas. The album takes it's title from the notorious "Tijuana Bible", an old time pornographic comic book, typically "starring" famous politicians, film stars and sports heroes of the day. "No one is really sure where they originated, but Tijuana, with it's creative approach to all things entertaining, is certainly a good place to guess", says Jim Suhler.

Along with Suhler on guitar and lead vocals, the band includes bassist Calrton Powell, keyboardist Shawn Phares and drummer Jimmy Morgan. Together, they've ben terrorizing clubs, theaters and festivals alike with their flamethrower brand of blues/rock. with a major side order of the Texas border mythology added to keep it spicy.

The Lance Lopez Band

2012-01-17T08:44:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues / Texas Blues Rock / Rock
Label: MIG/STRING COMMANDER
Management: Self Managed (For Now)

ARTIST BIO

There's no doubt about it, the state of Texas is well known world wide for its fiery blues guitar players. Although born in Shreveport, Louisiana, at the age of 12, his family moved to Dallas, where with the exception of a spell back in New Orleans and Southwest Florida, the guitarist has called his home ever since.

Lance has been a professional musician since he was 14 years old. He has shared the stage with legends such as Lucky Peterson, Johnnie Taylor and Buddy Miles. Developing a close friendship with Buddy Miles, the former Band Of Gypsys legend would go on to mentor Lopez, leading to him co producing his debut album 'First Things First', along with Grammy winning producer Jay Newland (Norah Jones) which was released independently in 1998. From 2003 to 2007 Lopez recorded, and released three studio and one live CD for a small independent label, Grooveyard Records - all of which were heavily influenced by one of many of the guitarist's main influences - Jimi Hendrix.

Now after a three year break, Lopez is back with a brand new Jim Gaines (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Santana) produced studio album 'Salvation From Sundown'. Intentionally conceived as a more traditional Texas blues styled offering, it's the guitarist's most mature recording to date, showcasing strong songwriting while still retaining the red-hot fretwork which has elicited none other than guitar god Jeff Beck to call him "A very exciting and intense blues guitarist". His first release on a major label (Sony/MIG) it shows him poised to take his rightful place as one of the finest blues players on the planet.

Thank you for listening!!! - Bluesdaddy

Tommy Castro

2012-01-16T13:38:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Blues / RockLabel: Alligator Records

ARTIST BIO
Born in San Jose, California in 1955, Castro first picked up a guitar at age 10. He came under the spell of Eric Clapton, Elvin Bishop, Mike Bloomfield and other blues rock players early on. As he got older, Castro moved forward by investigating the past, falling in love with the blues guitar work of Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Freddie King, Buddy Guy, Elmore James and singers like Ray Charles, Wilson Pickett and James Brown. By his late 20s he was playing in a variety of San Francisco-area blues and soul bands.

Ever since he first picked up a guitar and started making music, Tommy Castro believed. He believed he would not only be able to make a living playing music, but could develop his own signature sound and style. From his start playing in local Bay Area cover bands to joining the much-loved Dynatones to touring the world with his own band, Castro’s belief in himself has been rewarded. Today he is famed not only for his hard-hitting, impassioned vocals and his blues-infused, rocking R&B sound, but also for his striking, original songwriting and exhilarating stage show.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, “Castro navigates seriously funky Southern soul, gritty big city blues and scorching rock…his silvery guitar licks simultaneously sound familiar and fresh.” Castro (winner of the 2008 Blues Music Award as Entertainer Of The Year) is recognized as one of the absolute best blues and R&B players, singers and live performers in the world. With his Alligator Records debut, Hard Believer, Castro takes another major step forward in a career that never looks back.

Eric Johnson

2012-01-16T13:16:00.000-08:00

ARTIST SUMMARY
Genres: Rock / Instrumental Rock

ARTIST BIO
Since the 1980's, Eric Johnson has been one of the most critically acclaimed rock guitarists, as evidenced by the success of such releases as 'Ah Via Musicom,' 'Venus Isle,' and his latest offering, 'Up Close.' And soon, Johnson will be launching his summer tour to continue support of his latest album, fresh off of appearances on the West Coast Experience Hendrix Tour, as well as teaming up with Anton Fig and Will Lee of Late Night fame for a rousing rare performance at New York City's P.C. Richards and Sons Theatre.

From July 7th through August 20th, Johnson will be touring the USA from coast to coast as a headliner, as well as joining forces with fellow guitar great Steve Miller for shows at the Sleep Country Amphitheater in Clark County, Washington on July 17th and the DTE Energy Music Theatre in Clarkston, Michigan, on August 7th. He will also join the legendary Buddy Guy on July 21 in Omaha, Nebraska at the Red Sky Music Festival. The band members on the Summer Tour will be long time favorite Chris Maresh on bass guitar and Wayne Salzmann on drums, playing his first tour with Eric.

Also recently released was a vinyl version of 'Up Close,' issued on 180 gram vinyl, and housed in a beautiful special double LP gatefold package with printed sleeves. Additionally, 'Up Close' was remastered specially for this vinyl release by Jim Wilson.

A long time in the making , 'Up Close' has received rave reviews. All Music Guide pointed out that "[Johnson] continues to find interesting ways to hone his specific craft on 'Up Close'," while Premier Guitar Magazine raved "Johnson has created another worthy addition to his already legendary catalog." Also, it shouldn't be overlooked that 'Up Close' features an impressive list of special guests (Sonny Landreth, Steve Miller, Jimmie Vaughan, and Jonny Lang).

Speaking to M Music Magazine, Eric had the following to say about what his goals were for 'Up Close.' "To ﬁnd new ways of doing things. We’re all the sum of our history. After a while, we start to create certain patterns in what we do. I wanted to break some of that repetition. If you keep to the same format, the vibe stays the same, even though the music might change. If you want to grow, you have to break down walls and ﬁnd ways to work that are different from the past."

Additionally, Johnson graced the cover of this year's March issue of Guitar Player Magazine, was recently named Guitar International's "Guitarist of the Year," and has won an unprecedented 33 awards at the Austin Music Awards since 1982, including taking home "Best Electric Guitar," "Best Acoustic Guitar," and "Best Instrumental Band" awards at this year's ceremony.

Johnson has long been considered one of rock's most talented six-string players, as evidenced by his aforementioned platinum-certified 1990 release, 'Ah Via Musicom," its hit single "Cliffs of Dover," as well as a Grammy Award win for "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" in 1991. The song also recently was introduced to a whole new generation of rock fans, when it was featured in the hit videogame, 'Guitar Hero.'

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT:

www.ericjohnson.com

CAROLYN WONDERLAND - Austin, TX

2012-01-16T09:29:00.000-08:00

Salvation, Revolution, and Understanding
Living in Austin renewed Carolyn Wonderland's focus on her multiple talents, underlining luxurious vocals with fine guitar work, trumpet, and piano, as well as that remarkable ability to whistle on key. A series of each-better-than-the-next discs began with Alcohol & Salvation in 2003 ("songs about booze and God; records are a time capsule of what happened that year"). Her music played in television series such as Time of Your Life and Homicide.

Her circle of musician friends and admirers broadened to include not only Benson but the late Eddy Shaver, Shelley King, and yes, Bob Dylan, who likened her composition "Bloodless Revolution" to "a mystery movie theme." She began co-writing with locals Sarah Brown, Ruthie Foster, Cindy Cashdollar, and Guy Forsyth; sat in with Los Lobos, Robert Earl Keen, and Ray Wylie Hubbard; recorded with Jerry Lightfoot; and toured with Buddy Guy and Johnny Winter. She also claims membership in the all-girl Sis Deville, the gospel-infused Imperial Crown Golden Harmonizers, and takes aw-shucks credit for inspiring Amsterdam's annual WonderJam.

"The evolution of life shocks me all the time," Wonderland confesses. "When I think back on the crazy and beautiful things that have happened, it blows my mind, because I don't think I've done anything to deserve all these things. I'm still learning how to be appreciative and not be a jerk."

Jerks don't involve themselves with or support the wide range of socially conscious acronym organizations she does. SIMS, HAAM (Health Alliance for Austin Musicians), MPP (Marijuana Policy Project), NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), WAMM (Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana), and ARCH (Austin Resource Center for the Homeless), as well as Farm Aid, Seattle Hempfest, Million Musicians March, Cindy Sheehan, SafePlace, Front Steps, Star of Hope, Casa Marianella, and food banks are all beneficiaries of Wonderland's talents. She's a traditional folkie, and her socially conscious politics are on view in her music: Houston NORML uses her biographical "Annie's Scarlet Letter" as its featured soundtrack for public-service announcements.

Many of those second-chance and helping-hand efforts support women, families, and the homeless. That latter substrata of society is one that strikes close to her activist heart.

"I don't consider that I was 'home-less'; I consider that I was 'van-full,'" chuckles Wonderland with black humor about her nearly two years without a street address. "In that situation, I never went hungry in this town. And we were on tour so much it wasn't that radical of a change. I booked us a whole lot on the road."

She also bartered with friends, taking care not to spend too long at any one place by trading out household chores, cooking, and tasks in exchange for laundry and shower privileges.

"It felt useful that way," she explains, her slender brows furrowing in emphasis. "I've realized a lot of material things aren't quite as necessary as I thought they were when I was a kid. I once had goals of playing music and working other jobs for money so I could do that, but there's no time. If you set out to do that, then you're no good to anyone else as an employee. Any straight job was always back-burnered, and that made me feel bad. Anywhere I worked, it was like, 'Sorry, you're second choice.'"

Benson admires Wonderland's frankness in not making music her second choice.

"Musicians need two things: They need time for their craft – to practice, write, play – and they have to be out there hustling. Nothing had happened with Dylan. He doesn't like people talking about his stuff, but you know what? Too bad, Bob. I told Carolyn: 'Don't worry about budget. If you need to go in, go in. If we find a great tune, we go in and do it.'

"My luxury is owning [Bismeaux Studios]. It's not a great way to make money, but it's a great way to make music.

"And Carolyn's got that unbelievable, incredible voice, one of the great voices of our time, and that's not an overstatement. You can talk of K.T. Tunstall and other new chick singers of the last couple of years, but she's got the range, the emotion. Comparisons to Janis [Joplin] are always there since she's rooted in blues and R&B, but it's still rock & roll, and like Janis, Carolyn can take it into country. She's also an incredible guitar player and a great person, so humble. The combination is disarming and totally real. That's magic."

It was magic in the studio, too, as Miss Understood came to life, a canny mix of Benson's production, Wonderland's compositions, and select covers of Terri Hendrix, J.J. Cale, and Rick Derringer that punched her sound up a notch. As soon as the album roared to life, it was clear the singer-songwriter-guitarist-whistler had delivered on her long-awaited promise.

"What a thrill it was to have the Miss Understood CD release at [Antone's]," Susan Antone effuses of that night. "She stood there with her long, red curled hair and still played the hell out of the guitar, tearing it up as fabulous as always. I felt compelled to go on stage and say how honored we were to have her there, because I know what Cliffy would say, 'Let's hear it for Carolyn Wonderland.'"

Asleep At The Wheel

2011-10-04T06:13:00.000-07:00

Asleep At The Wheel

Since 1969, Asleep at the Wheel has boldly defied the fickle lures of the mainstream - and thrived - by sticking to their noble cause of keeping that distinctly American of art forms, Western Swing, alive and kicking. For their efforts through the years, they’ve managed to pick up nine Grammy© awards.

WILLIE AND THE WHEEL

Bismeaux Records is very pleased to announce that Willie Nelson and Asleep at the Wheel have teamed up to release an album collaboration due in February 2009. A concept thirty years in the making, Willie & The Wheel is a collection of classic western swing songs hand-picked by the late Jerry Wexler.

"Jerry wanted us to do this album and I'm glad we got to do it for him, “says Willie Nelson. “And that he heard it before he passed on."

“Willie & the Wheel is a CD whose time has come,” says Ray Benson. “Jerry Wexler originally came up with this concept back when Willie was on the Atlantic label. But, before the record could be made Willie left Atlantic for CBS records and so the idea was shelved.”

Better known as ‘Mr. R&B’, Jerry Wexler was a great fan of the original Western Swing bands like Bob Wills, Milton Brown, Cliff Bruner – all first introduced to him while he was studying journalism in Kansas City. Willie Nelson also had grown up on western swing and it has always figured heavily into his approach to music. Finally Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel (hailed as the modern kings of western swing) were added, resulting in a sublime album, surefooted in its mastery but still as playful and daring as the originals. Such a fitting collaboration certainly begs the question as to why this hasn’t happened already. - Source: www.reverbnation.com

Chris Duarte Group

2011-07-04T11:07:00.000-07:00

Artist Bio
Duarte was first inspired by music at age 8 after seeing Fiddler On The Roof on television. Duarte began playing his brother's guitar, and got his first electric guitar at the age of 14 and played with bands in San Antonio. In 1979, Duarte moved to Austin, Texas and purchased a 1963 Fender Stratocaster guitar for $500. Duarte began exploring the jazz music of John Coltrane and Miles Davis.

Duarte won a label recording contract with Silvertone Records and released Texas Sugar/Strat Magik in 1994, and was named "Best New Talent" in Guitar Player’s 1995 Reader's Poll.[citation needed] He finished fourth in the magazine’s "Best Blues Guitarist" category behind Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy and B.B. King.

Though Duarte has played a limited number of U.S. dates in recent years with the Japanese band Bluestone Company backing him, he performs primarily as a power trio, the 'Chris Duarte Group'. Originally formed with long-time friends and collaborators John Jordan on bass and Jeff Hodges on drums, the current incarnation features Matt Stallard on bass and Chris Burroughs on drums. Apart from his band, Duarte has performed with Julie Burrell, Diana Cantu, Bobby Mack, Tracy Conover, Indigenous, and Omar & the Howlers.

Duarte's concert dates in Asheville, Charlotte and Greenville were filmed for "The PBS Project". This side-project featured Steve Bailey on bass and Jeff Sipe on drums.

The Texas Tornados

2010-12-19T19:46:00.000-08:00

Artist Bio

The Texas Tornados
The ultimate Tex-Mex super group is back - Augie Meyers and Flaco Jiménez reunite with the son of Doug Sahm, Shawn Sahm in a new recording that includes five previously unreleased vocal performances from the legendary Freddy Fender. The collection, entitled “Esta Bueno,” includes new songs written by Fender such as the swamp pop ballad “If I Could Only,” an instant new Tornados-style classic written by Doug and Shawn Sahm “Who’s to Blame, Señorita?” and several Augie Meyers songs recorded for the first time by the Tornados, such as “Velma from Selma” and “My Sugar Blue.” The album was produced by Shawn Sahm and will be released nationally by Ray Benson's Bismeaux Records on March 2, 2010.

Shawn Sahm has been around the music since he was 13 and was the perfect person to entrust with preserving the Tornado’s legacy. He fine-tuned each track according to the group’s feedback giving each detail serious attention. Throughout the process, he insisted to all of them, “It is not done until you are happy.” For the release of the album, Ray Benson’s label, Bismeaux Records in Austin, was an obvious choice. Shawn comments, “Everyone knew they had a great record and they felt it would be important to go with someone who understood the legacy of the Texas Tornados. I knew Ray was the right guy. They have been friends for a long time. If anyone understood the legacy of the band, it was Ray.”